Flow Restricted Seat Ring for Pressure Regulators

ABSTRACT

A control device includes a valve body, a seat ring, and an actuator. The valve body defines a flow-path for a fluid. The seat ring is disposed within the flow-path. The actuator is coupled to the valve body and includes a control member. The control member is adapted for displacement relative to the seat ring for regulating a flow of the fluid through the flow-path. The control member includes a sealing disk adapted to sealingly engage the seat ring and close the flow-path. The seat ring includes a plurality of orifices disposed within the flow-path such that the seat ring prevents at least a portion of the flow of the fluid from substantially perpendicularly impacting the sealing disk.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/462,473,filed Aug. 4, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated hereinby reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

present disclosure generally relates to fluid control devices and, moreparticularly, to seat rings for fluid control devices.

BACKGROUND

Fluid control devices include various categories of equipment includingcontrol valves and regulators. Such control devices are adapted to becoupled within a fluid process control system such as chemical treatmentsystems, natural gas delivery systems, etc., for controlling the flow ofa fluid therethrough. Each control device defines a fluid flow-path andincludes a control member for adjusting a dimension of the flow-path.For example, FIG. 1 depicts a known regulator assembly 10 including avalve body 12 and an actuator 14. The valve body 12 defines a flow-path16 and includes a throat 18. In FIG. 1, the regulator assembly 10 isconfigured in a flow-up configuration. The actuator 14 includes an upperactuator casing 20, a lower actuator casing 22, and a control member 24.The control member 24 is disposed within the upper and lower actuatorcasings 20, 22 and is adapted for bi-directional displacement inresponse to changes in pressure across the regulator assembly 10. Soconfigured, the control member 24 controls the flow of fluid through thethroat 18. Additionally, as is depicted, the regulator assembly 10includes a seat ring 26 disposed in the throat 18 of the valve body 12.When the outlet pressure of the valve body 12 is high, a sealing surface28 of the control member 24 may sealingly engage the seat ring 26 andclose the throat 18. This prevents the flow of fluid through theregulator 10.

FIG. 1 depicts the regulator assembly 10 equipped with one known seatring 26. The seat ring 26 includes a generally ring-shaped body securedin the throat 18. The seat ring 26 includes a seating surface 30 and anorifice 32. As mentioned, the seating surface 30 is adapted to beengaged by the sealing surface 28 of the control member 24 when in aclosed position to prevent the fluid from flowing through the valve body12. The seat ring 26 depicted in FIG. 1 further includes a rounded ortapered surface 34. The rounded or tapered surface 34 serves tostreamline the flow of the fluid through the orifice 32. Additionally,it can be seen in FIG. 1 that a diameter of the seating surface 30 issubstantially equal to both a diameter of the orifice 32 of the seatring 26, as well as a diameter of the sealing surface 28 of the controlmember 24. Therefore, as fluid flows through the valve body 12, it flowsfrom the left of the valve body 12, as depicted in FIG. 1 and up throughthe throat 18 via the orifice 32 in the seat ring 26. Then, the fluiddeflects off a lower surface of the control member 24 including thesealing surface 28, and out to the right of the valve body 12 of FIG. 1.

One shortcoming of the above-described regulator assembly 10 is that theorifice 32 includes a diameter that is close to a diameter of thesealing surface 28 of the control member 24. Often times, such apressure regulator assembly 10 is implemented into a fluid deliverysystem for delivering natural gas. Natural gas tends to include debrisor particulate matter that, when traveling through the regulatorassembly 10, can damage the regulator assembly 10. For example, asdebris or particulate matter traveling under high pressure travelsthrough the orifice 32 in the seat ring 26, it impacts the sealingsurface 28 of the control member 24. Typical sealing surfaces 28 areconstructed of rubber. Upon impact, the debris or particulate matter candamage the rubber and thereby effect the performance of the regulator.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

One aspect of the present disclosure includes a seat adapted for sealingengagement with a control member. The seat controls the flow of a fluidthrough a flow-path of a control device. The seat includes a seatingsurface and a plurality of orifices. The sealing surface is adapted forsealing engagement with the sealing disk. Each of the plurality oforifices is disposed in the flow-path and contoured to prevent at leasta portion of the fluid flowing through the flow-path from directlyimpacting at least a portion of the control member.

According to another aspect, the seating surface has a first diameterand the at least one orifice has a second diameter. The second diameteris substantially smaller than the first diameter.

According to another aspect, the plurality of orifices direct the fluidthrough the flow-path.

According to yet another aspect, the seat further includes a pluralityof substantially cylindrical inner surfaces that define plurality oforifices as having a longitudinal axis disposed substantiallyperpendicularly to a plane in which the seating surface resides.

According to still another aspect, the substantially cylindrical innersurfaces define each of the plurality of orifices as having alongitudinal axis disposed at an angle relative to a plane in which theseating surface resides. In one form, the angle is less thanninety-degrees.

According to still yet another aspect, the seat further includes aplurality of substantially frustoconical inner surfaces defining each ofthe plurality of orifices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a regulator assembly includinga known seat ring;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of a regulator assemblyincorporating one form of a seat ring constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the regulator assemblyof FIG. 2 taken from circle 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the seat ring of FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of another form of a seat ring constructedin accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional side view of the seat ring of FIG. 5A takenthrough line 5B-5B of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of another form of a seat ring constructedin accordance with the principles of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional side view of the seat ring of FIG. 6A takenthrough line 6B-6B of FIG. 6A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Referring to FIGS. 2-4, a control device in accordance with theprinciples of the present disclosure includes a pressure regulator 100.The pressure regulator 100 generally includes a valve body 102, a seatring 104, and an actuator 106. The valve body 102 defines a flow-path108 extending between an inlet 110 and an outlet 112. The actuator 106includes a control assembly 114 that is moveable between an openposition, as is shown in FIG. 1, and a closed position, wherein thecontrol assembly 114 engages the seat ring 104. Movement of the controlassembly 114 occurs in response to fluctuations in the pressure of thefluid traveling through the flow-path 108. Accordingly, the position ofthe control assembly 114 relative to the seat ring 104 effects a flowcapacity of the pressure regulator 100.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 2 and 3, the valve body 102 furtherdefines a throat 116 between the inlet 110 and the outlet 112. Thethroat 116 includes a stepped portion 118 accommodating and supportingthe seat ring 104. In one form, an o-ring may be disposed between theseat ring 104 and the stepped portion 118 of the throat 116 to provide afluid-tight seal therebetween.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the actuator 106, as stated above, includesthe control assembly 114 and additionally, an upper actuator casing 122,a lower actuator casing 124 and a plurality of pins 126 (shown in moredetail in FIG. 3). The upper and lower actuator casings 122, 124 aresecured together by at least one threaded fastener 119 and correspondingnut 121. The upper actuator casing 122 defines an auxiliary outlet 123,a first control inlet 125 (depicted in phantom), and a travel chamber127. The travel chamber 127 contains a travel indicator 131, whichindicates the position of the control assembly 114 within the actuator106. The lower actuator casing 124 defines a second control inlet 129.

In cooperation, the upper and lower actuator casings 122, 124 define acavity 135 including a hollow neck 128. The hollow neck 128 includes alower portion 128 a disposed within an actuator opening 115 in the valvebody 102. As identified in FIG. 3, the plurality of pins 126 have firstends 126 a fixed to the lower portion 128 a of the hollow neck 128 andsecond ends 126 b located distally to the lower portion 128 a of thehollow neck 128. In the form illustrated, the first ends 126 a arethreaded into bores formed in the hollow neck 128. The second ends 126 bengage the seat ring 104. Accordingly, the pins 126 and the steppedportion 118 of the throat 116 sandwich and axially locate and secure theseat ring 104 in the valve body 102. While the regulator 100 has beendescribed as including a plurality of pins 126 locating the seat ring104 relative to the valve body 102, an alternate form of the regulator100 may include a cage disposed in the throat 116 to locate the seatring 104. In another form, the seat ring 104 may be threaded, adhered,or otherwise fixed to the valve body 102.

Still referring to FIG. 2, the control assembly 114 includes a tubularmember 130, a mounting subassembly 132, and a reaction subassembly 133.The tubular member 130 includes an upper end 130 a disposed within thecavity 135 and a lower end 130 b disposed within the hollow neck 128.The upper end 130 a of the tubular member 130 is open and includes acircumferential flange 140. The lower end 130 b of the tubular member130 is open and accommodates the mounting subassembly 132.

Referring to FIG. 3, the mounting subassembly 132 includes a mountingmember 142, a disk retainer 144, a disk holder 146, and a sealing disk148. In the disclosed form, the mounting member 142 includes a generallycylindrical body threaded into the open lower end 130 b of the tubularmember 130 and defining a through-bore 150. The through-bore 150 isgenerally axially aligned with the tubular member 130. The disk retainer144 includes a generally cylindrical body fixed to the mounting member142 with a fastener 152. In the form illustrated, the fastener 152includes a threaded fastener. Similar to the mounting member 142, thedisk retainer 144 defines a through-bore 154. The through-bore 154 ofthe disk retainer 144 has a diameter substantially identical to adiameter of the through-bore 150 in the mounting member 142 and isaxially aligned therewith.

Additionally, as shown in FIG. 3, the disk retainer 144 includes acentral cylindrical portion 144 a and a rim portion 144 b extendingradially outward of the central portion 144 a. The central cylindricalportion 144 a and the rim portion 144 b define a substantially flatbottom surface 145. The rim portion 144 b includes a chamfered surface144 c for seating into the seat ring 104. The rim portion 144 b locatesand secures the disk holder 146 and the sealing disk 148 relative to thetubular member 130. The disk holder 146 includes a generally ring-shapedplate constructed of a rigid material such as steel. The sealing disk148 includes a generally ring-shaped disk made of a resilient materialand fixed to the disk holder 146. In one form, the sealing disk 148 isfixed to the disk holder 146 with an adhesive. In accordance with thedisclosed form, the configuration of the disk retainer 144 limits radialdeformation of the sealing disk 148 when the control assembly 114 is ina closed position compressing the sealing disk 148 against the seat ring104.

Referring now to the upper portion of the regulator 100 depicted in FIG.2, the reaction subassembly 133 includes a diaphragm 134, an upperdiaphragm plate 136 a, a lower diaphragm plate 136 b, and a spring 138.The upper and lower diaphragm plates 136 a, 136 b are clamped onto thecircumferential flange 140 of the tubular member 130. The diaphragmplates 136 a, 136 b are secured together via fasteners 156, therebyfixing the tubular member 130 and the diaphragm plates 136 a, 136 btogether. Additionally, the diaphragm plates 136 a, 136 b sandwich aradially inward portion of the diaphragm 134. A radially outward portionof the diaphragm 134 is fixed between the upper and lower actuatorcasings 122, 124. The spring 138 is disposed within the cavity 135formed by the upper and lower actuator casings 122, 124 and between theupper actuator casing 122 and the upper diaphragm plate 136. In the formdisclosed, the spring 138 includes a coil spring biasing the entirecontrol assembly 114 including the diaphragm plates 136 a, 136 b, thetubular member 130, and the mounting subassembly 132 to a predeterminedposition relative to the actuator casings 122, 124.

In general, when the regulator assembly 100 is installed within a fluidprocess control system, the control assembly 114 is able to reciprocallydisplace within the cavity 135 and hollow neck 128 of the actuator 106according to a pressure of the fluid traveling through the valve body102. Specifically, fluid flows from the inlet 110 of the valve body 102and through the throat 116. Once the fluid passes through the throat116, a substantial portion of the fluid flows to the outlet 112 whilethe remainder flows through the through-bores 150, 154 in the mountingmember 142 and disk retainer 144. That portion of the fluid continues toflow through the tubular member 130 and out the auxiliary outlet 123. Inone form, the fluid flowing out of the auxiliary outlet 123 may bedirected back into the fluid process control system to supply, forexample, a pilot system, via a fluid line (not shown). The portion ofthe fluid that flows through the valve body 102 and to the outlet 112also flows back into the fluid process control system. Specifically, inone form, a portion of the pressure of the fluid at the outlet 112 isbled off into another fluid line (not shown) and directed to the firstcontrol inlet 125 in the upper actuator casing 122. Hence, the pressureat the outlet 112 of the valve body 102 equals the pressure at the firstcontrol inlet 125, which is ultimately applied to the upper diaphragmplate 136 a. Therefore, under high-pressure, low-flow conditions, thepressure at the outlet 112 of the valve body 102 forces the diaphragmplates 136 a, 136 b and the control assembly 114 downward with the biasof the spring 138. Alternately, under high-pressure, low-flowconditions, the spring 138 forces the diaphragm plates 136 a, 136 b andthe control assembly 114 downward with the pressure at the outlet 112 ofthe valve body 102 toward the open position depicted in FIG. 2. The sumof the downward forces s opposed by a controlling pressure actingthrough the inlet 129 to position the valve according to the flowrequired to meet the downstream demand.

With specific reference now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the seat ring 104according to one form of the present disclosure will be described. Theseat ring 104 includes a generally ring-shaped body having a fixationportion 158, a seating portion 160, and an obstruction portion 162. Theseating portion 160 is disposed radially between the fixation andobstruction portions 158, 162. The fixation portion 158 includes amounting shoulder 164. As depicted in FIG. 3, the mounting shoulder 164engages the stepped portion 118 of the throat 116 to support the seatring 104. In the form disclosed, the engagement of the mounting shoulder164 of the seat ring 104 axially and radially locates the seat ring 104relative to the valve body 102.

The seating portion 160 of the seat ring 104 extends radially inward ofthe fixation portion 158 and includes a seating flange 170 defining aseating surface 172, which is identified most clearly in FIG. 4. Theseating flange 170 includes a substantially cylindrical protrusionextending upward from the seat ring 104 such that the seating surface172 is disposed opposite the sealing disk 148, as depicted in FIGS. 2and 3. Accordingly, when the control assembly 114 travels to a closedposition, the sealing disk 148 axially engages and seals against theseating surface 172.

The obstruction portion 162 of the seat ring 104 extends radially inwardof the seating portion 160 and includes a transition portion 174 and aninterference portion 176. The transition portion 174 includes a hollowgenerally frustoconical member extending radially inward and axiallydownward from the seating portion 160. The interference portion 176includes a generally ring-shaped member having an inner surface 178defining an orifice 180 in the seat ring 104. The orifice 180 allows forthe passage of fluid through the valve body 102 when the controlassembly 114 is in an open position and through the mounting assembly132 into the tubular member 130 when in both the open and closedpositions, as discussed above with reference to FIG. 2. The innersurface 178 of the interference portion 176 includes a substantiallyfrustoconical surface having an inlet rim 182 and an outlet rim 184. Theinlet rim 182 has a diameter that is less than a diameter of the outletrim 184, thereby defining a substantially frustoconical orifice 180.Additionally, the inlet and outlet rims 182, 184 each include diametersthat are substantially less than a diameter of both the seating flange170 and the sealing disk 148. Thus, the orifice 180 includes an averagediameter that is substantially less than the diameter of the seatingflange 170 and the sealing disk 148.

Accordingly, while fluid flows through the orifice 180, the innersurface 178 including the inlet and outlet rims 182, 184 direct thefluid through the seat ring 104 and toward the bottom surface 145 of thedisk retainer 144. As mentioned above, a portion of the fluid travelsthrough the through-bores 150, 154 in the disk retainer 144 and mountingmember 142, respectively, and into the tubular member 130. The remainderof the fluid impacts the bottom surface 145 of the disk retainer 144 anddeflects substantially perpendicularly thereto and toward the outlet 112of the valve body 102. Thus, the fluid travels substantially parallel tothe sealing disk 148. The disclosed form of the seat ring 104 preventsthe fluid and/or any debris or particulate matter contained in the fluidfrom perpendicularly impacting the sealing disk 148.

FIGS. 5A and 5B depict an alternate form of a seat ring 204 constructedin accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. Similar tothe seat ring 104 described above in reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, theseat ring 204 includes a fixation portion 258, a seating portion 260,and an obstruction portion 262. The fixation portion 258 and seatingportion 260 are identical to that described above and, therefore, willnot be described in detail. The obstruction portion 262, however,includes a plate portion 264. The plate portion 264 is generally flatand lies within a plane 266 (shown in FIG. 5B) that is substantiallyperpendicular to the flow of fluid through the throat 116 of the valvebody 102. The plate portion 264 includes a plurality of cylindricalsurfaces 268 extending therethrough and defining a plurality orifices270. The plurality of orifices 270 allow for the passage of fluidthrough the seat ring 204. Each of the cylindrical surfaces 268 includea longitudinal axis 272 that is substantially perpendicular to the plane266 occupied by the plate portion 264. Additionally, each of theplurality of orifices 270 are disposed substantially radially inward ofthe seating flange of the seat ring 204 and scaling disk 148 of thecontrol assembly 114.

Accordingly, while fluid flows through the seat ring 204, the pluralityof orifices 270 direct the fluid toward the bottom surface 145 of thedisk retainer 144. As mentioned above, a portion of the fluid travelsthrough the through-bores 150, 154 in the disk retainer 144 and mountingmember 142, respectively, and into the tubular member 130. The remainderof the fluid impacts the bottom surface 145 of the disk retainer 144 anddeflects substantially perpendicularly thereto and toward the outlet 112of the valve body 102. Thus, the fluid travels substantially parallel tothe sealing disk 148. Similar to the seat ring 104 discussed above, thedisclosed form of the seat ring 204 prevents the fluid and/or the debrisor particulate matter in the fluid from perpendicularly impacting thesealing disk 148.

FIGS. 6A and 6B depicts a seat ring 304 that is a variation on the seatring 204 depicted in FIGS. 5A and 5B. Particularly, the seat ring 304 isconfigured similar to the seat ring 204 described above and includes aplate portion 364 disposed in a plane 366 (shown in FIG. 6B). The plane366 is substantially perpendicular to the flow of the fluid through thethroat 116 of the valve body 102. The plate portion 364 includes aplurality of cylindrical surfaces 368 defining a plurality of orifices370. Each of the orifices 370 are disposed radially inward of theseating flange of the seat ring 304 and the sealing disk 148 of thecontrol assembly 114. Each of the cylindrical surfaces 368 includes aninlet rim 368 a and an outlet rim 368 b. In the form depicted, the inletand outlet rims 368 a, 368 b are substantially equal in diameter. Theinlet rims 368 a are offset from their corresponding outlet rims 368 bsuch that each of the orifices 370 depicted in FIG. 6 includes alongitudinal axis 372 that is disposed at an angle relative to the plane366. The angle of each of the longitudinal axes 372 of the orifices 370is less than ninety-degrees.

Accordingly, upon installation of the seat ring 304 into a regulator100, the seat ring 304 is oriented such that the inlet rims 368 a aredisposed toward the inlet 110 of the valve body 102 and the outlet rims368 b are disposed toward the outlet 112 of the valve body 102. Soconfigured, the orifices 370 direct the flow of the fluid at an anglethrough the seat ring 304. As described above with reference to the seatring 204 depicted in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a portion of the fluid is directedinto the bottom surface 145 of the disk retainer 144. Unlike the seatring 204 depicted in FIGS. 2-5, however, the seat ring 304 depicted inFIGS. 6A and 6B directs the fluid at an angle into the disk retainer144. Therefore, upon impacting the bottom surface 145 of the diskretainer 144, the fluid inherently deflects toward the outlet 112 of thevalve body 102 such as to travel substantially parallel to the sealingdisk 148.

In accordance with the disclosed forms of the present disclosure, itshould be appreciated that the seat ring 104, 204, 304 directs the flowof fluid through the valve body 102 substantially parallel to the rubbersealing disk 148, thereby optimizing the useful life of the sealing disk148. In addition, it should be appreciated that different seat ringshaving different configurations defining different flow-paths areincluded within the scope of the present disclosure. As such, thepresent disclosure provides for a flow controlling seat ring that may besubstituted by another flow controlling seat ring constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present disclosure to accommodatea different application for the pressure regulator or other controldevice in which the seat ring is incorporated.

Additionally, it should be appreciated that while the foregoingdisclosure has described, in reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, a form of aseat ring 104 including a frustoconical inner surface 178 defining asingle frustoconical orifice 180, an alternate form of the seat ring 104may include a substantially cylindrical inner surface 178 defining asingle cylindrical orifice 180. In one form, the cylindrical orifice 180may have a longitudinal axis that is generally perpendicular to a planeoccupied by the interference portion 176 of the seat ring 104. Inanother form, the cylindrical orifice 180 may have a longitudinal axisthat is disposed at an angle less than ninety-degrees relative to aplane occupied by the interference portion 176 of the seat ring 104.Still further, while the seat ring 104 has been depicted and describedhereinabove as including a frustoconical inner surface 178 convergingaxially downward in relation to the orientation of the pressureregulator 100 as depicted, an alternate form of the seat ring 104 mayinclude a frustoconical inner surface 178 converging axially upward inrelation to the orientation of the pressure regulator 100.

Still further, it should be appreciated that while the seat rings 204,304 depicted and described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 have beendisclosed as including cylindrical surfaces 268, 368 definingcylindrical orifices 270, 370, alternate forms of the seat rings 204,304 may include frustoconical surfaces 268, 368 similar to that depictedin FIGS. 2 and 3 defining frustoconical orifices 270, 370. In one form,the frustoconical surfaces 268, 368 may converge axially downward inrelation to the orientation of the pressure regulator 100. In anotherform, the frustoconical surfaces 268, 368 may converge axially upward inrelation to the orientation of the pressure regulator 100. Additionally,while the frustoconical orifices of any of the above-described formshave been depicted or described as having axes that are substantiallyperpendicular to the seat ring 104, 204, 304 in which they are provided,an alternate form of the seat rings 104, 204, 304 may includefrustoconical orifices having axes disposed at an angle relative to theseat rings 104, 204, 304 similar to the orifices 370 depicted in FIGS.6A and 6B. Furthermore, while each of the plurality of orifices 370 inFIGS. 6A and 6B have been described and depicted as being disposed at acommon angle relative to the seat ring 304, an alternate form of theseat ring 304 may include a plurality of orifices 370 each disposed atdifferent angles relative to the seat ring 304, wherein some or all ofthe angles may or may not direct the fluid through the seat ring 304toward the outlet 112 of the valve body 102. Further yet, anotheralternate form of the seat ring 304 may include each of the plurality oforifices 370 angled to direct the flow of the fluid toward the center ofthe through-bores 150, 154 in the mounting subassembly 132. Stillfurther, while each of the orifices 170, 270, 370 in each of the seatrings 104, 204, 304 have been depicted or described as being generallycylindrical or frustoconical, wherein each would have a generallycircular cross-section, alternate forms of the present disclosure mayinclude orifices having cross-sections that are other than circular. Forexample, alternate forms of the orifices may include polygonalcross-sections or any other irregularly shaped cross-sections. Finally,it should be appreciated that while the present disclosure has beenprovided in the context of a pressure regulator, it may be successfullyincorporated into other fluid process control devices including controlvalves, actuators, and any other foreseeable device.

In light of the foregoing, the description of the present disclosureshould be understood as merely providing examples of the presentinvention and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of theinvention are intended to be within the scope of the invention.

1. A seat adapted for sealing engagement with a control member and forcontrolling the flow of a fluid through a flow-path of a control device,the seat comprising: a seating surface adapted for sealing engagementwith the control member; and a plurality of orifices disposed radiallyinward of the seating surface and in the flow-path and contoured toprevent at least a portion of the fluid flowing through the flow-pathfrom directly impacting at least a portion of the control member.
 2. Theseat of claim 1, wherein the seating surface has a first diameter andeach of the plurality of orifices has a second diameter that issubstantially smaller than the first diameter.
 3. The seat of claim 1,further comprising a substantially cylindrical inner surface definingeach of the plurality of orifices as having a longitudinal axis disposedsubstantially perpendicularly to a plane in which the seating surfaceresides.
 4. The seat of claim 1, further comprising a plurality ofsubstantially cylindrical inner surfaces defining each of the pluralityof orifices as having a longitudinal axis disposed at an angle less thanninety-degrees relative to a plane in which the seating surface resides.5. A seat adapted for sealing engagement with a control member and forcontrolling the flow of a fluid through a flow-path of a control device,the seat comprising: a seating surface adapted for sealing engagementwith the control member, the seating surface having a first diameter;and an interference portion defining a plurality of inner surfacesdefining a plurality of orifices disposed in the flow-path, each orificehaving a second dimension that is smaller than the first dimension, theinterference portion for directing the flow of the fluid through theflow-path and away from at least a portion of the control member.
 6. Theseat of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of substantiallycylindrical inner surfaces defining the plurality of orifices.
 7. Theseat of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of orifices is disposedin a plane that is substantially perpendicular to a direction of theflow-path through the orifice.
 8. The seat of claim 7, wherein each ofthe plurality of orifices are arranged radially inward of the seatingsurface.
 9. A control device, comprising: a valve body defining aflow-path for a fluid; a seat ring disposed within the flow-path; and anactuator coupled to the valve body including a control member adaptedfor displacement relative to the seat ring for regulating a flow of thefluid through the flow-path, the control member including a sealing diskadapted to sealingly engage the seat ring; the seat ring including aplurality of orifices disposed within the flow-path such that the seatring prevents at least a portion of the flow of the fluid from impactingthe sealing disk.
 10. The control device of claim 9, wherein the sealingdisk includes a first diameter and each of the orifices in the seat ringincludes a second diameter that is substantially less than the firstdiameter.
 11. The control device of claim 9, wherein the plurality oforifices are each disposed radially inward of the sealing disk.
 12. Thecontrol device of claim 9, wherein the seat ring includes a plurality ofsubstantially cylindrical sidewalls defining the plurality of orifices,the substantially cylindrical sidewalls each having a longitudinal axisdisposed substantially perpendicular to a plane in which the seat ringresides.
 13. The control device of claim 9, wherein the seat ringincludes a plurality of substantially cylindrical sidewalls defining theplurality of orifices, each of the substantially cylindrical sidewallshaving a longitudinal axis disposed at an angle less than ninety degreesrelative to a plane in which the seat ring resides.
 14. A controldevice, comprising: a valve body defining a flow-path for a fluid; anactuator coupled to the valve body and including a control member with asealing surface, the control member adapted for displacement relative tothe valve body for adjusting a capacity of the fluid through theflow-path; and a seat ring disposed in the flow-path and attached to thevalve body, the seat ring including: a seating surface adapted forselective engagement by the sealing surface of the control member; andan interference portion extending radially inward from the seatingsurface and defining a plurality of orifices through the seat ring toaccommodate the fluid flowing through the flow-path.
 15. The controldevice of claim 14, wherein the sealing surface and at least one of theplurality of orifices are axially offset.
 16. The control device ofclaim 14, wherein each of the plurality of orifices is disposed radiallyinward of the sealing surface.
 17. The control device of claim 14,wherein the interference portion includes a plurality of substantiallycylindrical sidewalls defining the plurality of orifices, each of thesubstantially cylindrical sidewalls having a longitudinal axis disposedsubstantially perpendicular to a plane in which the seat ring resides.18. The control device of claim 14, wherein the interference portionincludes a plurality of substantially cylindrical sidewalls defining theplurality of orifices, each of the substantially cylindrical sidewallshaving a longitudinal axis disposed at an angle less than ninety degreesrelative to a plane in which the seat ring resides.